Just when I get ready to say how sloppy we look, we start to claw our way back into this one. UB is absolutely killing us in the paint. This would be a great time for Taylor to step up.

I get it was a good shot by Carter at end, but I'd rather go down swinging with a 3 at the buzzer. Not sure we could have hung in there for another 5 minutes against UB without Simmons, even though he wasn't good tonight.

I liked the call....a good look high percentage shot and Buffalo already had one player fouled out and at least one more with 4 fouls...plus being at home.


The seeding looks like a hot mess...going to be 4 or 5 teams at 11-7 and no idea on seeding. It would help if WMU loses to NIU and Kent loses one of their last two games.

Dreadful night as far as our prospects go:

* OU loses
* Buffalo wins (obviously)
* Kent State wins
* Ball State wins
* Western is winning by 10 at halftime

And of all things: Akron loses at home to MIAMI. I view that as bad because it's the last nail in Akron's at-large hopes, which means it will probably mail it in Friday at Kent. (Also gives Miami some life going into its game Friday in the Convo.)

Ugh, ugh, ugh.

Well on the bright side we might get another home game.

THIS ^

I know your post was tongue in cheek, but anyway:

This team has been struggling so badly at home. Akron was its only bright spot. If OU loses to Miami on Friday (likely relegating us to a first-round tourney home game), that would mark five losses in our last seven home games. And that would mean a no-atmosphere game Monday (students on break) against somebody certainly hotter than us.

Good lord, get a win Friday!

Saul Ball now 15-12 at Convo in last 27 MAC games. That is....ummmm...not good?

UB 48 pts in paint on 25-38 shooting from 2pt range. That is beyond terrible interior defense.

This team is stumbling their way into MAC tourney. Miami win wasn't pretty despite score. Meltdown at Kent...and then punched in face by UB.

Whatever mojo they had appears to be gone again.

Could be one and done in CLE.

Assuming they even get there...

Being in the building tonight, I'll complain about our fans, and also applaud the hell out of those who were there. The student turnout, quite frankly, is as pitiful and disappointing as I've ever seen from the section that used to be the OZone. The 110, and those who were there - big kudos. Fans in the non-student areas - also big kudos. OUr crowd responded when the team needed it for the whole second half to try to help spur on runs, to try to be that little extra.

It was a fun game - and OUr guys simply fell short by a bit. We could blame officials, who were really bad in certain moments, but there's also the inopportune moments of missing free throws, missing bad three point attempts, or allowing UB to get into the paint too easily.

Beat Miami. Get the Bye. See y'all Friday!

[/QUOTE]I totally agree. I understand that the early start may have been an issue for a few evening classes and the weather at game time was abysmal; maybe those were partially to blame for the small Ozone turnout.
I'm hoping that next year the marketing department (I understand The Ozone falls under their auspices) will make an all-out effort to restore it to the level many of us remember in years gone by.
While those present tonight did all they could to fire the team up at critical junctures in the game, the shear number of empty seats in The Ozone was hard for many of us to understand.
The times...they are a changin'.

That better get corrected in a hurry next year. 15-12 in last 27 conference games makes no sense. The Convo used to be the toughest place to play in the league and now it's like Athens High School Gymnasium. I will say that from watching a ton of games on TV, the atmosphere just looks completely dead. Lack of Ozone effort isn't helping one bit either.

Crowd was announced at around 5600 but we all know that is not the number of butts in the seats. The crowd that was there was good. Exciting game.

The second half stats show a very even second half. Ohio was in the double bonus before the second team foul called on them with 8 minutes to go. A lost opportunity there. Buffalo scored its last field goal with 2:32 to go in game and only shot 1-2 in free throws until the final second of the game. Bobcats down by 6, they missed many opportunities to take control. Overall stats show fairly even points off 3's. Ohio made more free throws than Buffalo shot (15-14)but missed 7 FTs. Great final opportunity for Carter. Looked like the first option was for him to spin to the right side of basket for shot or toss back to player taking ball out but that was well defended. From where we sit the lob and shot look perfect but not to be.  

Officiating was not good but it was not good evenly. Game looked a little too fast for these guys IMHO.

They had to win at Gonzaga and/or Creighton for there to be any hope of an at-large.